Author Note:

I'm quite overwhelmed by the response I've had for this fic so far. Thank you so much for all your positive comments. Obviously it's a sensitive subject to tackle, so it makes me feel much better to know I'm not making a complete hash up of it.

Sorry about the wait for this chapter. I've been away for a few days and only just got back today.

This chapter comes with a warning. The first half of this does contain violence, it upset me when writing it and may be emotionally triggering to some of readers. So please proceed with caution.

Please read, and continue to review!

Leanne xx

Disclaimer: I still don't own Waterloo Road, because if I did I wouldn't be writing fanfiction

Part Seven

When Karen arrived home that night, Jess and Vicki were both sat around the kitchen table drinking hot chocolate and giggling over something Vicki had just said. It was a relief to see a smile back on her face, because the couple of times she'd seen her around school today, the desolate look in her eyes could have made her weep. "Hey Mum," Her daughter grinned, and Karen was relieved that things seemed to have gone back to normal between them as well.

"Hello love," Karen moved around the table, and dropped a kiss on the top of Jess's head, smiling when her daughter grimaced at the display of affection. "It's nice to see you Vicki," She turned to address the other teenager.

"You too Mrs Fisher, thanks for having me for tea," Vicki said politely, with a smile at her headmistress.

Karen shook her head, "It's not a problem," She assured her, though in the back of her mind she was thinking of Charlie and how he'd react to coming home and finding their daughter's friend there. "Where's your Dad?" She asked Jess, flicking the switch on the kettle, and reaching for a mug from the cupboard. It seemed to be quite a familiar sequence of events these days.

Jess shrugged, "He just said he was going out, told me to tell you not to do him any tea," She answered, a slight renitence in her tone and something far too knowing in her expression.

Karen turned away from her, pouring hot water into her cup, her hands shaking slightly. "Right," She replied awkwardly, wary of the change that came over Jess whenever she mentioned her Dad. "Are you two hungry? I'll put tea on now if you are."

"Starving," Vicki confirmed, filling the silence that lingered whilst looking curiously between her best friend and headteacher. "Jess?" She shot her an unfathomable look, and finally Jess spoke.

"Yeah, whatever!" She replied moodily, not looking at either of them and getting up from the table. "I'm going upstairs, you coming Vick?" Jess emptied the remains of her drink down the sink and disappeared out of the room. Vicki shot Karen an apologetic look, before following after her friend, determined to get to the bottom of what was making her so unpredictable.

Charlie didn't come home that night, or during the day on Sunday either. Whether it was because he didn't know what time Vicki was leaving, or because he was shacked up with some tart, Karen didn't know nor care.

He finally let himself into the house at half past two on the Monday morning. Karen heard the door quietly shut behind him, and his feet on the stairs. The alarm clock by her bed illuminated her face, and she quickly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep as her husband entered the room, casting a shadow over the bed.

Charlie paced around for a few minutes as he undressed, stopping around his wife's side of the bed, and crouching down beside her, no doubt checking if she was still awake. "Karen?" There was a faint note of anger in his voice, and she could smell the alcohol on his breath, mingled with the scent of a sickly sweet perfume. She had to fight not to scrunch her face up in distaste, because that would surely give the game away. Charlie watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, and seeming satisfied that she was asleep, climbed into his side of the bed, and turned his back on her.

Karen screwed her eyes shut tighter, as if by doing that it would make everything go away. Tears rolled uncontrollably down her cheeks and left a salty taste in her mouth as she struggled to keep herself from shaking. Rolling onto her front, she buried her face in the pillow, and drifted into an disturbed sleep, subconsciously dreading the coming morning.

Karen turned over onto her back, bringing up a hand to shield her eyes from the bright sunlight that invaded the room and assaulted her vision. Charlie pulled back the bedroom curtains, and she knew he'd done it on purpose to wake her up. "Morning," She said cautiously, struggling to sit up.

"I made you a cup of coffee," Her husband said in response, not turning to look at her until he passed the drink across the bed. Karen tried to smile, but it was lost on him as he eyed her intently, like a predator would his pray. She couldn't bear the expression on his face and began tracing the intricate pattern on the duvet cover. "I thought I told you to tell Vicki not to come this weekend," Charlie commented, his tone was unnervingly light but Karen wasn't fooled for a second. "So you can imagine my surprise when I came home to find her and Jess in the kitchen together." Karen didn't speak for a minute, her eyes darting around the room, and her hands clutching the cup she was holding onto for dear life. "I'm waiting for you to explain yourself."

Charlie's voice dropped an entire octave, and she still didn't trust herself to look at him as she answered. "I didn't know what to tell her," Karen replied weakly, keeping her head down. "What was I supposed to say?"

"That's not my problem!" She shied away from him as he raised both his voice and his left hand to strike her. She closed her eyes, inevitably waiting for him to make contact with her face. But it never came and half opening one eye she thought he'd changed his mind until she felt herself shoved to one side. The cup slipped out of her grasp and smashed; its contents scalding her bare leg, and the jagged ceramic edge digging into the palm of her hand.

He fished spoon out of his own cup of coffee deliberately pressing it against her arm, and she let out a gasp of pain as the hot metal made contact with her skin. Moving it away, Karen noticed the appearance of an angry red welt, but she had no time to dwell on this, feeling the same pain again just on the back of her hand. "You undermined my authority," He hissed, forcing her to look at him. "Now you have to be punished for that."

Karen's eyes filled with tears, her heart pounding with terror at the malice in the eyes of the man who was supposed to love and protect her. Not be the cause of all her pain. "Charlie please –" She pleaded, her words falling on deaf ears, as he let the spoon drop to the floor, reaching out and grabbing his wife around the wrist and dragging her up off the bed.

"Charlie, please," He mimicked her tone, his hands coming up and yanking on her hair as he forced her up against the wardrobe door, its handle digging painfully into her back.

Jess woke up early that morning, and was quite content to lay there in bed for another quarter of an hour before getting ready for school. As she lay there, she realised she couldn't hear the familiar sounds of her mum clattering around the kitchen, or the water running in the bathroom. Pulling on her dressing gown, she thought she'd better check that she hadn't overslept. She was about to knock on her parents bedroom door, when what sounded like a whip cracking stopped her. Quietly, she opened the door a fraction, freezing as it creaked slightly. Jess had to stifle her gasp at the scene that met her eyes. Her parents were stood against the far wall of the room, but her Dad had her mum pinned up against the wall. The weight of his body was pressed against her so she couldn't move, and one hand tightened around her neck. Jess couldn't help the agonizing moan that left her lips but she couldn't be heard over her mother gasping for breath as she struggled to free herself from his grip.

Tears clouded her eyes, as she heard another slap reverberate throughout the room and her mouth dropped open in silent horror as he moved just enough for her to see a shining cut on her mum's cheek, Jess knew, where his ring had caught her. Revulsion rose in her like vomit, and she had to grab hold of the stair banister for support. Even though she'd suspected it since seeing the bruises, there was a difference between suspecting and actually knowing the truth. When she didn't know for sure, it was easy to think up other ways in which she could have sustained her injuries, but now there was no denying it.

"I told you before, I always win." He hissed loudly, his hand falling away from her throat. Their daughter was truly frightened now as Karen let out a loud yelp of pain and when he moved Jess could see her mum crouched in the corner of the room, crying quietly, a streak of blood now dripping steadily down her cheek.

She was forced to duck quickly into the bathroom next door, as her parents bedroom door opened, and she watched him storm out of the room, heard his heavy footsteps on the stairs, and the front door slamming shut. Jess wiped the tears from her face and waited a few more seconds until she was sure it was okay to come out, before going to her mum's room and pressing down on the door handle. It didn't budge, and Jess knew she'd locked herself in.

School that day seemed to drag on forever. Jess had left the house before Karen even came down the stairs, both terrified because she didn't think she could handle seeing her like and helpless because she'd just stood there and let him hurt her.

Jess earned herself a telling off in science because her work wasn't up to scratch, and she exhaled nervously as she was kept behind and interrogated. She forced herself to meet her teacher's eyes and eventually he was forced to concede she was just having a bad day. The second lesson of the day was English, and as the bell went for break, she realised she hadn't listened to a word. Thankfully it seemed to go unnoticed though and she escaped without a lecture.

At break and lunch she sat by herself outside, convincing her friends that she wasn't feeling well. She tried to force down her lunch but didn't manage anymore than half a sandwich and a handful of crisps. Just two more lessons to go, and then she didn't have to convince anyone else she was fine. She didn't have to endure their curious glances and concerned looks. But instead she had to go home and face up to what was happening. She didn't know which one was worse.

"Domestic violence," Jess could feel herself shiver involuntarily as the title of their afternoon lesson was read out. As part of their PSHE curriculum it was one of the topics they had to study and the school had gotten in a guest speaker for their first lesson. "Studies conducted show that approximately one in four females are a victim of patriarchal violence." Her arms folded across her chest and she tried to let the teacher's words go over her head, but she was unable to get the image of her own father… that monster pinning her mum against the wall. "This is only calculated through the use of official statistics however, and other sources suggest that 54% of abuse cases go unreported." Awash with horror Jess could feel her eyes beginning to well up and bile rising in her throat. She raised a shaking hand and asked for permission to go to the toilet. The teacher quickly granted it, her eyes widening as she looked at her, trembling and looking as though she was about to faint.

Jess only just made it to the toilets before hurtling into a cubicle and being violently sick. Her throat burned and she threw up again, continuing to retch until there was nothing left to expel. Exhausted she dragged herself up from the floor, and went over to the sinks, catching sight of herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess; she had make up smeared across her face and tear tracks glittered on her cheeks. She took several steadying breaths, splashing cold water over her face in an attempt to make herself feel better. Jess straightened up to examine her reflection again after reapplying her foundation and eyeliner. Satisfied that any evidence she'd been crying was gone, and that she looked more presentable, she slung her bag over her shoulder and pushed open the toilet door.

As she drew closer to the classroom, she could feel the dread returning and her legs starting to shake. Jess leaned against the wall for support, closing her eyes momentarily as she fought the urge to vomit again. "Jess?" When she opened them at the sound of a voice, she was startled to see Rob standing in front of her, a concerned expression on his face. "Jess, are you okay?"

Jess tried to pretend that it was nothing, but the words 'I'm fine' became lodged in her throat. The pressure of keeping everything bottled up for so long became too much for her and a tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another before the floodgates opened properly.

"Do you want me to go and fetch your mum?" Rob asked worriedly, shocked at the worked up state in which he'd found her in.

Jess shook her head fiercely at his words, "No you can't!" She begged, the words tripping off her tongue and falling over themselves in her haste to make him understand. "She can't know!" Rob frowned at the vehemence in her tone of voice, unsure of what to do next. He was only the site manager at the end of the day. Jess should really be referred to pastoral care but he knew she'd object to that, and what with their home situation, Karen could really do without the additional stress – not least if it was about that, he couldn't let it become public knowledge. But he couldn't just leave her there.

"Okay, why don't you come with me then?" He said gently, "We can have a chat if you want to, or you can just sit in my office until you're ready to go back to class."